udy, doing nothing,
and when Montagu came in to visit him, felt inclined to resent his
presence.

"So," he said, looking up at the ceiling, "another saint come to cast a
stone at me! Well! I suppose I must be resigned," he continued,
dropping his cheek on his hand again; "only don't let the sermon be
long."

But Montagu took no notice of his sardonic harshness, and seated himself
by his side, though Eric pettishly pushed him away.

"Come, Eric," said Montagu, taking the hand which was repelling him; "I
won't be repulsed in this way. Look at me. What? won't you even look?
O Eric, one wouldn't have fancied this in past days, when we were so
much together with one who is dead. It's a long long time since we've
even alluded to him, but _I_ shall never forget those happy days."

Eric heaved a deep sigh.

"I'm not come to reproach you. You don't give me a friend's right to
reprove. But still, Eric, for your own sake, dear fellow, I can't help
being sorry for all this. I did hope you'd have broken with Brigson
after the thrashing I gave him for the foul way, in which he treated me.
I don't think you _can_ know the mischief he is doing."

The large tears began to soften the fire of Eric's eye. "Ah!" he said,
"it's all of no use; you're all giving me the cold shoulder, and I'm
going to the bad, that's the long and short of it."

"O Eric! for your own sake, for your parents' sake, for the school's
sake, for all your real friends' sake, don't talk in that bitter,
hopeless way. You are too fine a fellow to be made the tool or the
patron of the boys who lead, while they seem to follow you. I _do_ hope
you'll join us even yet in resisting them."

Eric had laid his head on the table, which shook with his emotion. "I
can't talk, Monty," he said, in an altered tone; "but leave me now; and
if you like, we will have a walk to-morrow."

"Most willingly, Eric." And, again warmly pressing his hand, Montagu
returned to his own study.

Soon after, there came a timid knock at Eric's door. He expected
Wildney as usual; a little before, he had been looking out for him, and
hoping he would come, but he didn't want to see him now, so he answered
rather peevishly, "Come in; but I don't want to be bothered to-night."

Not Wildney, but Vernon appeared at the door. "May I come in? not if it
bothers you, Eric," he said gently.

"Oh, Verny, I didn't know it was you; I thought it would be Wildney.
You _never_ come now."

Th